This morning when I retrieved my Toronto Star paper I felt a hint of coolness in the air. Yesterday I dug my ten hills of potatoes and picked the apples off the young tree as the birds were interested in taking bites from them. It seemed early but it was time. We have already made our spaghetti sauce for the next year and although we do not get as ambitious as we used to we have effectively completed these little tasks before September.
This makes it possible to enjoy the beautiful fall weather and get some serious biking and outdoor activities going. We prefer this season for golf as well because when school begins the courses are not crowded and the price drops a little.Ontario has such a variety of deciduous hardwoods that the colours make our countryside some of the most beautiful found anywhere.
I prefer to prepare my garden beds early in the fall and do a double tilling to rid them of weeds. This year I was bothered for the second year with peach curl. This deadly disease ruined the nectarine crop and I cannot get rid of it. I followed the instructions but with no avail. Because of the dryness of July and August all the fruit seem smaller and I would not consider this a good year overall. My water bill reflected my need to keep everything damp but tap water is not rain and I feel the chemicals in the tap water a hindrance to growth.
One thing that comes to mind when mother nature warns us of cooler weather is the call to the south. We begin to think about and plan for our migration to Florida.This is just a reminder now but on each cooler day we start to talk about our place there and wonder how everything is after six months of neglect. One more little distraction is that hurricane season is with us and we keep our fingers crossed to ward off any real bad storms.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
A Message For Canada
Stephen Lewis took advantage of the golden opportunity to give Canada a message of hope, civility and love. Hope for a better Canada, civility in relations with each other and love of country were stated so eloquently over and over again by Canada,s best speaker. The language used by Stephen was blended so well as to make everyone aware of the importance of the message. It was as if he was talking to the Prime Minister and advising him of the way things should be done in Ottawa.
He challenged everyone to take Jack as an example of how to relate to people of all stripes and to always be civil while doing so. There is so much distrust and anger against our leaders whether they be political, economic or even religious because of their actions reported through the media. The social media has opened up the world to practically everyone instantly, and has caused a a social revolution.
People are just sick and tired of the way our country is being managed and feel helpless but Jack changed all that with a picture perfect campaign during the last election. He used honesty, humour and a message of hope to convince we the people that we can become agents of change. He said we must work together and make things happen. This message resonated through Stephen's entire speech and brought everyone to their feet on any occasion where he spoke of civility and co-operation in making our country a better place in which to live.
He praised Canada for being a great country but emphasized the challenge of making it an even better country by sharing the wealth and being inclusive so everyone in Canada could feel welcome and could share its bounty. Jack and Stephen were great friends and shared the same ideals and convictions. Stephen works on a world stage and uses his skills to provide basic needs for people whose country is not doing so. His bond with Jack is that he has being the same work at the people level. If there was a social cause Jack was in the lead and if there was a balanced argument required Jack was not adverse to taking the often unpopular stand to make that argument.
Together they make a formidable team for good here in Canada and have thrown out the challenge for us to do the same. The message was for Canada but we as individuals are Canada and can make a difference.
He challenged everyone to take Jack as an example of how to relate to people of all stripes and to always be civil while doing so. There is so much distrust and anger against our leaders whether they be political, economic or even religious because of their actions reported through the media. The social media has opened up the world to practically everyone instantly, and has caused a a social revolution.
People are just sick and tired of the way our country is being managed and feel helpless but Jack changed all that with a picture perfect campaign during the last election. He used honesty, humour and a message of hope to convince we the people that we can become agents of change. He said we must work together and make things happen. This message resonated through Stephen's entire speech and brought everyone to their feet on any occasion where he spoke of civility and co-operation in making our country a better place in which to live.
He praised Canada for being a great country but emphasized the challenge of making it an even better country by sharing the wealth and being inclusive so everyone in Canada could feel welcome and could share its bounty. Jack and Stephen were great friends and shared the same ideals and convictions. Stephen works on a world stage and uses his skills to provide basic needs for people whose country is not doing so. His bond with Jack is that he has being the same work at the people level. If there was a social cause Jack was in the lead and if there was a balanced argument required Jack was not adverse to taking the often unpopular stand to make that argument.
Together they make a formidable team for good here in Canada and have thrown out the challenge for us to do the same. The message was for Canada but we as individuals are Canada and can make a difference.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Dark Age Thinking
The good news is that many countries in North Africa and vicinity are throwing off the shackles of repressive governments and searching for freedom. We on the other hand in Canada are going in the opposite direction. Recent policies by our federal government are causing concerns for our labour force, health care and legal systems.
Justice Minister Nicholson's forthcoming legislation on crime casts a police state like pall over our country. As a society we are finally beginning to address the mental health needs and challenges in our legal system. Many people who are held in our prison system are ones who should have been given care in our health system. Many of the homeless walking our streets used to have a place in our mental health system. Recently two of our young people were placed in our prison system only to die because they never received the care that was promised.
All this is known but still Nicholson is about to bring forth a one policy for all legislation that will be non-negotiable and with mandatory sentencing we will see our Prime Minister's new jails filled to capacity with many people who should be elsewhere.
With the government's eye directed at unions and pension schemes in the public sector, the same governing body appointed Tony Clement as president of the treasury board and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario - the same Conservative who was responsible for squandering millions in backroom negotiations for projects in his riding with unjustifiable connections to the G20.
These are a few of the issues we will be watching during the next session and from the looks of it there will be many more changes in the making that will make our country less civil and more difficult for the people who have needs in the health and legal systems, as well as for the union worker who has his rights taken away by a right wing government.
Justice Minister Nicholson's forthcoming legislation on crime casts a police state like pall over our country. As a society we are finally beginning to address the mental health needs and challenges in our legal system. Many people who are held in our prison system are ones who should have been given care in our health system. Many of the homeless walking our streets used to have a place in our mental health system. Recently two of our young people were placed in our prison system only to die because they never received the care that was promised.
All this is known but still Nicholson is about to bring forth a one policy for all legislation that will be non-negotiable and with mandatory sentencing we will see our Prime Minister's new jails filled to capacity with many people who should be elsewhere.
With the government's eye directed at unions and pension schemes in the public sector, the same governing body appointed Tony Clement as president of the treasury board and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario - the same Conservative who was responsible for squandering millions in backroom negotiations for projects in his riding with unjustifiable connections to the G20.
These are a few of the issues we will be watching during the next session and from the looks of it there will be many more changes in the making that will make our country less civil and more difficult for the people who have needs in the health and legal systems, as well as for the union worker who has his rights taken away by a right wing government.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Nature's Lightning Show
All day the weather reporters were warning everyone to be aware of the oncoming storm. Red warnings were cast at the bottom of our TV screens advising us of the power of the storm. It was to be a cold front moving through a hot, humid stationary system which meant thunder and lightning with the possibility of some tornadoes. In the evening as predicted the storm rolled in with a show of power. For us it was not the hail, wind or rain but the lightning which held us spellbound.
For over an hour we were treated to numerous flashes of brilliant light from all directions. At any given moment there were many flashes and as I sat in our sun room upstairs I marvelled at the power and beauty of this magical show. This week Mother Nature reminded us of the destructive power of wind as a 300 km wind gust in the form of a tornado destroyed the main center of one of our most beautiful small towns, Goderich, and left it in shambles.
This past year was a special year for disasters caused by natural occurrences. Earthquakes, volcanoes, drought, and wind storms remind us of the potential for destructive events, but lightning storms can be beautiful and deadly. I personally love the sight of this showy performance and sit in awe of the power and deadly force. Man has been able to control many things in this world but when nature bares it's teeth and displays its tremendous power we are helpless.
My respect for nature and natural occurrences makes me a strong believer in the natural order of things and the tiny role man plays in the big picture.A recent documentary tried to explain the size of space in relation to our universe. Numbers could not express the huge expanse in a meaningful way so the person said that our solar system is like a grain of sand on a beach. All of these natural happenings make up a small part of the whole and make us wonder. This wonder caused man to devise systems to control society and to help explain the unknown. Every society has its own way of trying to understand this supreme power through the formation of religions, and fall short of getting the job done. It would be so much simpler to try to harmonize oneself with nature and become a child of the universe.
For over an hour we were treated to numerous flashes of brilliant light from all directions. At any given moment there were many flashes and as I sat in our sun room upstairs I marvelled at the power and beauty of this magical show. This week Mother Nature reminded us of the destructive power of wind as a 300 km wind gust in the form of a tornado destroyed the main center of one of our most beautiful small towns, Goderich, and left it in shambles.
This past year was a special year for disasters caused by natural occurrences. Earthquakes, volcanoes, drought, and wind storms remind us of the potential for destructive events, but lightning storms can be beautiful and deadly. I personally love the sight of this showy performance and sit in awe of the power and deadly force. Man has been able to control many things in this world but when nature bares it's teeth and displays its tremendous power we are helpless.
My respect for nature and natural occurrences makes me a strong believer in the natural order of things and the tiny role man plays in the big picture.A recent documentary tried to explain the size of space in relation to our universe. Numbers could not express the huge expanse in a meaningful way so the person said that our solar system is like a grain of sand on a beach. All of these natural happenings make up a small part of the whole and make us wonder. This wonder caused man to devise systems to control society and to help explain the unknown. Every society has its own way of trying to understand this supreme power through the formation of religions, and fall short of getting the job done. It would be so much simpler to try to harmonize oneself with nature and become a child of the universe.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Jack
Canada mourns the death of a man who during his life touched the imagination of everyone because he gave a glimmer of hope that politicians could be true to their words. Jack as he was known to the public for his life style and convictions walked the walk. My oldest daughter told me years ago when she was a student at Ryerson that there was a professor who rode to work every day on his bicycle. She said he was a green activist and was a person who wanted to make a difference in the way politics worked.
He acted the same in public life as he did in private and became beloved by the people who connected with him. His love for Toronto was shown when he was elected to city council and gave straight solutions for the problems facing Canada's largest city. He spoke his mind often but without anger or malice and sought compromise to bring people together.
He lived in an area of Toronto which had a very diverse ethnic matrix and loved to walk the streets of his district and talk to the people who gravitated to his personal touch and friendly demeanor. He became the face of the common people and carried the torch for those people who lacked a voice and championed ideas and causes that were important to those who cared about the quality of life in the big city.
There are words spoken now about this man who passed away so quickly after he became the beacon of hope for his political party and a shinning example of how to conduct yourself in public life. Hours before his death he met with his close staff and wrote a letter to the people to express his wish for the future of Canada. He will be remembered for his achievements but his greatest legacy will be the manner in which he achieved these goals. Jack was a person whose life might influence people who wish to make their mark in public life and to do so with grace and conviction. Jack Layton was a reminder that there are good people out there who really care about their fellow man and Canada and were prepared to do something about it.
He acted the same in public life as he did in private and became beloved by the people who connected with him. His love for Toronto was shown when he was elected to city council and gave straight solutions for the problems facing Canada's largest city. He spoke his mind often but without anger or malice and sought compromise to bring people together.
He lived in an area of Toronto which had a very diverse ethnic matrix and loved to walk the streets of his district and talk to the people who gravitated to his personal touch and friendly demeanor. He became the face of the common people and carried the torch for those people who lacked a voice and championed ideas and causes that were important to those who cared about the quality of life in the big city.
There are words spoken now about this man who passed away so quickly after he became the beacon of hope for his political party and a shinning example of how to conduct yourself in public life. Hours before his death he met with his close staff and wrote a letter to the people to express his wish for the future of Canada. He will be remembered for his achievements but his greatest legacy will be the manner in which he achieved these goals. Jack was a person whose life might influence people who wish to make their mark in public life and to do so with grace and conviction. Jack Layton was a reminder that there are good people out there who really care about their fellow man and Canada and were prepared to do something about it.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Treasures and Secrets From The Past
This area of the house is often referred to as my cave as I store my personal treasure in every nook of this room. It is a large room and is the place I have my polar bear hide and art treasures from the Arctic. It also houses my pool table and comfortable chair from which I watch sports and programming that would not interest other folks. Here is where the remains of my documented life lies in boxes and folders. Pictures and news clippings saved from the past fill storage areas and are mostly neglected until now. I am determined to bring order to this heterogeneous conglomeration of personal history once and for all.
The pool table looked like a good place to start. To hold the material that is, as I began dragging everything from the storage closets and placing the boxes and containers in loose groupings on its surface. The table is not large enough so I extend the area to cover the floor and another table. Now I have an an idea of the scope of my task. I begin with my LP records and music tapes which date back to the fifties. There are hundreds of them and as I examine some of them I turn on the record player and listen to the Seekers. Every song becomes a memory and there is not enough time to listen to even a small portion of our collection. I go to the garage and dig out my old Sony tape recorder and place a tape in the slot hoping that it still works. It did and my mind again pulled me back to those carefree days when Ann Murray sang songs that you still hear in the Walmarts in Florida.
I move to the picture boxes and began to race through the scores of family pictures. I smile at the brilliance of youth which shines from the black and white photos of yesteryears when we were young and follow the trail of the children growing up and registered on these little pictures. A little sadness when you cross faces that are no longer with us but a inward smile with memories re kindled by markers of time. Hours went by and I just got started. All day I stayed the course and after supper, continued. The clutter was still piled up on the pool table and I seemed no further ahead with the cleanup but I was walking through the past and it gives one a good picture of the future.
I decided to organize the pictures and give as many as possible to people who would benefit from their story and help to give the same warm feeling I got when viewing them. I am just starting with my task but I realize that this basement storage house was not clutter but family history. All it needs is a system to help people to access it. I have the outline of my plan and now I have to go and get it done. At the rate I went forward today I guess I will have a long journey but a pleasant one. Somehow I feel that when the work is complete, all I will have is well organized clutter.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Clutter Day
Every few years I have to admit to the fact that I am a collector. I see something and my mind immediately sees a use for that thing. I pack it away and after a couple of years I wonder why I am keeping it. To be honest, the majority of objects that catch my eye are put into good use. For example the neighbours next door threw a solid oak cupboard out for the garbage collector. I saw this as a treasure as it was put together by screw nails and contained over $150 in good solid oak boards to say nothing about the box of inch and a half screws. You see my problem. I like to recycle.
However yesterday I started my cleanup and got as far as clearing my work bench. Every item I picked up to assess and throw caused me some pain as there was value in the product. I made a rule that anything I had for over three years deserved to be tossed. Mostly I tossed but some particular items survived. I have 8 hammers. 9 handsaws and fifty screwdrivers. It is hard to toss them when they are in perfect shape. We decided to offer all the discards to family and then they go to the Salvation Army Store.
Items that the girls throw from the confines of the house sometimes survive for a while in the garage as I might have use for them. Electronic items like boom boxes and old record players along with hand controls for TVs which we no longer use and cables by the dozen will make it to the recycle boxes at our landfill this year.
As much as I am on a roll there comes into play the careful checking from my wife to see I don't throw away anything good. In my mind everything is good but we just don't need it. I am inspired by that horrible TV show called hoarding. Most of us have just a touch of that disease but time and space control it.We have quite a bit of space and I have time so I must use willpower to control the urge to see treasure in trash.
It will take me several days to complete my task with the eventual reward of seeing the garage floor and painting it with a clean coat of grey paint. Time is wasting so I must get to work. Perhaps a picture will convince me to make this a yearly ritual.
However yesterday I started my cleanup and got as far as clearing my work bench. Every item I picked up to assess and throw caused me some pain as there was value in the product. I made a rule that anything I had for over three years deserved to be tossed. Mostly I tossed but some particular items survived. I have 8 hammers. 9 handsaws and fifty screwdrivers. It is hard to toss them when they are in perfect shape. We decided to offer all the discards to family and then they go to the Salvation Army Store.
Items that the girls throw from the confines of the house sometimes survive for a while in the garage as I might have use for them. Electronic items like boom boxes and old record players along with hand controls for TVs which we no longer use and cables by the dozen will make it to the recycle boxes at our landfill this year.
As much as I am on a roll there comes into play the careful checking from my wife to see I don't throw away anything good. In my mind everything is good but we just don't need it. I am inspired by that horrible TV show called hoarding. Most of us have just a touch of that disease but time and space control it.We have quite a bit of space and I have time so I must use willpower to control the urge to see treasure in trash.
It will take me several days to complete my task with the eventual reward of seeing the garage floor and painting it with a clean coat of grey paint. Time is wasting so I must get to work. Perhaps a picture will convince me to make this a yearly ritual.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Annual Reunion Of Classmates From NSTC
Our class reunion from Nova Scotia Normal School is being held this weekend in Truro. Theresa and I are missing it because of circumstances which we thought were beyond our control. The truth is we could have attended as my surgery was cancelled. This year it was special as our class were having the couple of days before the formal reunion in St. Peters, Cape Breton.
The get together is being hosted by one of our retirees, Eva, who was the first appointed school inspector in N.S. who just happened to be a lady as well. Our class have been in the habit of making the annual reunion a special event with a gathering somewhere for a few days of social interaction. Our class is the only one which has had such a bond and as we are in our 56th year it is quite a record.
There are a few dedicated people who keep the group alive and vibrant and maintain good communication. This reunion is more than a gathering of old teachers, but also a group which has embraced family and friends as well. We are getting older with an average age of just about 75 but when we get together we are all 18 again.
There is something special about our group which resonates every time one of us is experiencing a turn in our lives; we receive warm and meaningful support. Our networking seems to work and we all benefit from this ring of a supporting cast. Yes we do gossip at our gatherings, catch up on the latest information about those who are not there to defend themselves and remember those who are no longer with us. Most of have been in the position where we lost loved ones and friends but the group stays strong because the collective energy of the members is stronger than any individual.
I don't know where the next meeting of our class will meet but I know that we will meet and I intend to be there to share a few days with colleagues and friends.I am sure as well that this blog will be analyzed for spelling and syntax as we will always be teachers at heart.
The get together is being hosted by one of our retirees, Eva, who was the first appointed school inspector in N.S. who just happened to be a lady as well. Our class have been in the habit of making the annual reunion a special event with a gathering somewhere for a few days of social interaction. Our class is the only one which has had such a bond and as we are in our 56th year it is quite a record.
There are a few dedicated people who keep the group alive and vibrant and maintain good communication. This reunion is more than a gathering of old teachers, but also a group which has embraced family and friends as well. We are getting older with an average age of just about 75 but when we get together we are all 18 again.
There is something special about our group which resonates every time one of us is experiencing a turn in our lives; we receive warm and meaningful support. Our networking seems to work and we all benefit from this ring of a supporting cast. Yes we do gossip at our gatherings, catch up on the latest information about those who are not there to defend themselves and remember those who are no longer with us. Most of have been in the position where we lost loved ones and friends but the group stays strong because the collective energy of the members is stronger than any individual.
I don't know where the next meeting of our class will meet but I know that we will meet and I intend to be there to share a few days with colleagues and friends.I am sure as well that this blog will be analyzed for spelling and syntax as we will always be teachers at heart.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Sounds of the Night
Last evening was a perfect time to listen for the sounds of the night. There was a small moon presence so the sky was dark except for stars that stood out because of the low humidity. The sound that dominated the air was the crickets. It seemed like every cricket was chirping and there were plenty. In the early evening the cicada's gave up there singing and closed out a day where their voices dominated the neighbourhood. Every few years these large insects come in numbers and for a few weeks they make their presence known. This was one of those days.
As the sun went down the day birds gave their last tweets and became silent. We have some song sparrows which persist right up to sunset and they do have a lovely song. Our cardinals call out with their loud demanding voice and answering calls keep them in contact with their brood.The noisiest of our local birds and probably one of the most beautiful is the Blue Jay. We have many and this time of the year they seem to come in flocks or at least in numbers as they begin to call in the morning and you can trace their location long after they leave by their shrill calls. This evening they were absent from our immediate area but I could hear a few off in the distance.
The local bus and a few motorcycles interrupt the tranquility of our back yard but only for a moment. Some chickadees were fluttering in the apple tree and were selfish with their few weak tweets. Usually as night falls we hear them in the still air.
Everything seems to go quiet at the same time as with a signal that says it is time to go o bed. We have these vines that grow out of control along our fence line and on the sides of our home. They become home to birds who come for the berries which the vines produce and a safe place to roost for the night. This evening all is still except for the sound of the berries dropping from the vines caused by the roosting birds. The sounds of the night return to reality and the cars and trucks travelling on the QEW take over and provide us with that white sound we no longer head. Mosquito's buzz and make us realize it is time for we to take cover in the comfort of our home.
As the sun went down the day birds gave their last tweets and became silent. We have some song sparrows which persist right up to sunset and they do have a lovely song. Our cardinals call out with their loud demanding voice and answering calls keep them in contact with their brood.The noisiest of our local birds and probably one of the most beautiful is the Blue Jay. We have many and this time of the year they seem to come in flocks or at least in numbers as they begin to call in the morning and you can trace their location long after they leave by their shrill calls. This evening they were absent from our immediate area but I could hear a few off in the distance.
The local bus and a few motorcycles interrupt the tranquility of our back yard but only for a moment. Some chickadees were fluttering in the apple tree and were selfish with their few weak tweets. Usually as night falls we hear them in the still air.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Responsibility
Rarely do we see a more responsible reaction to the economic difficulties facing the USA than revealed last night. The third richest man in the world declared to the world that he is prepared to pay more taxes and so should the other rich people in America. The right wing conservative movement across the world seem to think that protecting the rich is a good thing. Warren Buffet and some of his good friends have been thinking about where they have gained their wealth. They have set up trust funds to specific goals and are preparing to give most of their wealth on death to better the world.
Warren Buffet and friends realize that their wealth came from good business practise and some luck. They are the stewards of fortunes and can be the prime movers in helping to make the world a better place in which to live. He and his friends are aware that they do not pay their share of the burden as he stated his taxes this year were 17 % and his total a small amount considering his total wealth.
In America the increased taxes that would be collected with a modest increase would go a long way in helping stabilize the debt of America. What a wonderful , responsible way to help their country and bring it back to a place where needed programs for the less fortunate could remain in place. Toronto, Canada could do the same thing with a small increase in taxes. To cut every program would be devastating to many and the impact would be felt by unrest among the needy.
The quality of life in any country or community is judged by the way it treats its very old and most needy. For many the arts,health care and social programs is all that enriches the lives of many. The more fortunate or rich are able to buy their happiness but the less fortunate depend on society to provide services. Young people and children benefit from social programs and for every dollar invested in them at a young age reflects in the cost of more expensive programs when they are older.
Good for Warren Buffet and those who choose to meet their responsibility. Now let us hear our governments take the same stand and make this world a better place for all society.
Warren Buffet and friends realize that their wealth came from good business practise and some luck. They are the stewards of fortunes and can be the prime movers in helping to make the world a better place in which to live. He and his friends are aware that they do not pay their share of the burden as he stated his taxes this year were 17 % and his total a small amount considering his total wealth.
In America the increased taxes that would be collected with a modest increase would go a long way in helping stabilize the debt of America. What a wonderful , responsible way to help their country and bring it back to a place where needed programs for the less fortunate could remain in place. Toronto, Canada could do the same thing with a small increase in taxes. To cut every program would be devastating to many and the impact would be felt by unrest among the needy.
The quality of life in any country or community is judged by the way it treats its very old and most needy. For many the arts,health care and social programs is all that enriches the lives of many. The more fortunate or rich are able to buy their happiness but the less fortunate depend on society to provide services. Young people and children benefit from social programs and for every dollar invested in them at a young age reflects in the cost of more expensive programs when they are older.
Good for Warren Buffet and those who choose to meet their responsibility. Now let us hear our governments take the same stand and make this world a better place for all society.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Fly Away
This year we have been fortunate with our wildlife in our backyard. Five families of birds nested and had their brood fly away without major problems. We have the luxury of time and this year we were able to capture those last days when mom bird has had enough and decides it is time for the chicks to leave the nest.
If birds could talk I know what they would say.After sitting on the eggs for between 18-21 days the parents are ready for a busy feeding schedule. In the case of our birds both parents share the burden. Every day they make numerous trips away only to return with beaks loaded with food. Soon wide open mouths appear at the door opening and all call me, me and try to reach out to the food.
Some babies are more aggressive and seem to get most of the food but the parents usually share. As the days turn into weeks the babies begin flapping their wings in the safety of their house but become more inquisitive and poke their little heads further out of the door opening. The daily ritual of cleaning the house is ongoing and the parents take the soiled bedding away from the house and clean their beaks on branches of nearby trees.
Feathers appear and mother begins to try to lure the babies out of the nest. This usually takes several days and some shy babies have to be dragged out and pushed off the birdhouse in order to make them independent. This time the babies left the nest one at a time. The last one was left without feeding for half a day. It finally came to the door and out on the rest. Suddenly the mother appeared and just as fast flew off. With encouraging chirps the mother enticed the baby to follow. It did and flew right through our apple tree and landed on the ground safe and sound. Theresa and I followed and the baby flew to a nearby ladder and up on the fence. We then saw the parents and three babies on the neighbours roof.
This scene is so much the same as people where some children have to be almost pushed out of the home to make a life for themselves. Nature has a way of making us all realize that we are in this world together and the same rules apply to man and beast unless we break them. This will probably be the last little family we harbour this year but we are content just to see them fly away.
If birds could talk I know what they would say.After sitting on the eggs for between 18-21 days the parents are ready for a busy feeding schedule. In the case of our birds both parents share the burden. Every day they make numerous trips away only to return with beaks loaded with food. Soon wide open mouths appear at the door opening and all call me, me and try to reach out to the food.
Some babies are more aggressive and seem to get most of the food but the parents usually share. As the days turn into weeks the babies begin flapping their wings in the safety of their house but become more inquisitive and poke their little heads further out of the door opening. The daily ritual of cleaning the house is ongoing and the parents take the soiled bedding away from the house and clean their beaks on branches of nearby trees.
Feathers appear and mother begins to try to lure the babies out of the nest. This usually takes several days and some shy babies have to be dragged out and pushed off the birdhouse in order to make them independent. This time the babies left the nest one at a time. The last one was left without feeding for half a day. It finally came to the door and out on the rest. Suddenly the mother appeared and just as fast flew off. With encouraging chirps the mother enticed the baby to follow. It did and flew right through our apple tree and landed on the ground safe and sound. Theresa and I followed and the baby flew to a nearby ladder and up on the fence. We then saw the parents and three babies on the neighbours roof.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Cutbacks Everywhere
All over the world countries are having a crunch time with their budgets and lack of control over deficits. In Canada we appear to be in a better position than most but it concerns me where we are cutting to reach our goals. I recently wrote a blog about the lack of control for our safety in the production of food products from, chickens, pigs and cows. This week we see the federal government cutting the food inspectors who check the major producers in western Canada. Now 14 of the slaughter houses will have no government controls or checks and the industry will self regulate. This is letting the fox in the chicken house.
Recently three noted scientists from Canada released a study outlining the effects of the use of hormones [growth], antibiotics and other enhancing products in our food chain. Their study was accepted world wide and when it was released in Canada to make the government aware of the dangers from the use of these products they we fired from their government posts.The food lobby did not agree with their findings which proved that super bugs were being generated as a result of the indiscriminate use of these products. After nearly three years of hearings these men were fired and legislation was passed permitting the use of these products.
The difficulty of permitting self regulation is apparent as more and more we are finding that outbreaks of various types of super bugs originate in our meat products. There are few or no new control drugs for the containment of these super bugs. The same degree of indifference can be seen with the overuse of antibiotics in humans as they put us at risk again and hospitals are having to deal with super bugs like C.difficle.
When we make cuts as we must there should be some assurance that they do not put we the public at risk with health issues. Governments are lobbyed all the time and the result is not always productive for we the people. The profit motive often drives the direction of the legislation. Sad.
Recently three noted scientists from Canada released a study outlining the effects of the use of hormones [growth], antibiotics and other enhancing products in our food chain. Their study was accepted world wide and when it was released in Canada to make the government aware of the dangers from the use of these products they we fired from their government posts.The food lobby did not agree with their findings which proved that super bugs were being generated as a result of the indiscriminate use of these products. After nearly three years of hearings these men were fired and legislation was passed permitting the use of these products.
The difficulty of permitting self regulation is apparent as more and more we are finding that outbreaks of various types of super bugs originate in our meat products. There are few or no new control drugs for the containment of these super bugs. The same degree of indifference can be seen with the overuse of antibiotics in humans as they put us at risk again and hospitals are having to deal with super bugs like C.difficle.
When we make cuts as we must there should be some assurance that they do not put we the public at risk with health issues. Governments are lobbyed all the time and the result is not always productive for we the people. The profit motive often drives the direction of the legislation. Sad.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Another Twist In The Road
Friday was to be my day in the Trillium Hospital receiving some needed help for my back. This has been a year long journey and we were so close to having the procedure when everything went off the tracks. An allergic attack caused my procedure to be aborted and we had to wait for six weeks. With everything proceeding well for the operation on the 12th the doctor felt that more tests were required in order to be confident about my safety.
I was disappointed to be sure but appreciative of the concern shown by the doctors. I will be having some tests soon at Sunnybrook to make sure everything is safe to proceed. I could be angry but negative energy is wasted energy so we have to be patient.
We have everything ready for the special day and the improvements to our home will come in handy for all of us as we age. Installing new toilets, doubling up the handrails on the stairs and grab bars in needed places kept us busy while waiting. Special equipment like a walker was loaned to me by a neighbour and we purchased a back brace and small items to make my recovery easier. These conveniences will have to wait for a while unless there is another twist in the road .
I was disappointed to be sure but appreciative of the concern shown by the doctors. I will be having some tests soon at Sunnybrook to make sure everything is safe to proceed. I could be angry but negative energy is wasted energy so we have to be patient.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Cool Breezes Blowing
For the first night since early May the cool evening breeze made sleep with an open window a pleasure and bonus. Every year there is a crossover from real summer to that time when you know fall is just around the corner. We have experienced one of the hottest and driest June -July in history. Trees are stressed and crops effected but Mother Nature took care of that during the last three days with ample rainfall and a light show to make us all aware of her power.
We talk of climate change all the time and this year we have been given the evidence as we watch the world reports of extremes. Floods here, drought there and extremes nearly everywhere. The Sun Belt of the USA is experiencing temperatures which caused concern as rivers dried up, lakes are at dangerous levels and no relief in sight.
Before we left Florida in May we were in the middle of a 80 year drought which threatened agriculture and every phase of life. Difficulties have become the engine of creativity. Since 40 percent of the water we use domestically is caused by the use of toilets the companies have now a multitude of these necessary instruments which use little and in some cases no water. Green power production using the sun and wind are helping and will become more efficient and widely used.
People will come up with answers to our needs and new industries will rise from the chronic need for newer and better solutions to our problems.In the meantime I personally love the weather when it offers warm days and cool evenings with a cool breeze.
We talk of climate change all the time and this year we have been given the evidence as we watch the world reports of extremes. Floods here, drought there and extremes nearly everywhere. The Sun Belt of the USA is experiencing temperatures which caused concern as rivers dried up, lakes are at dangerous levels and no relief in sight.
Before we left Florida in May we were in the middle of a 80 year drought which threatened agriculture and every phase of life. Difficulties have become the engine of creativity. Since 40 percent of the water we use domestically is caused by the use of toilets the companies have now a multitude of these necessary instruments which use little and in some cases no water. Green power production using the sun and wind are helping and will become more efficient and widely used.
People will come up with answers to our needs and new industries will rise from the chronic need for newer and better solutions to our problems.In the meantime I personally love the weather when it offers warm days and cool evenings with a cool breeze.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Disgusted and Angry
With the blackout for the Jays game last night I decided to surf the channels. I was immediately stopped with the sight of a rural scene and a farmer feeding chickens. Unfortunately this was just the lead up to a full length documentary on the chicken and beef industry in America. As disturbing as the pictures were I could not take my eyes off the screen. The facts presented and the coldness of the owners and leaders in the production caused me to get very angry.
This documentary produced with the use of hidden cameras showed the brutal manner of the industry in having chickens produced in dark rooms in 39 days from egg to table by Prime and Purdue producers. Beef cattle treated in a similar manner and the type of food and drugs given these creatures would make you think about being a vegetarian. The workers involved in the industry are marginalized and are treated like the animals they work with. Third world workers and illegals are the main source of manpower and the average wage is around $18,000 per year.
Hogs were the third group of animals studied and they fared a little better up to shipping time. The methods of slaughtering the animals meets some standard but the manner in which all these animals are treated during the process of getting them ready for market are questionable. Deadly outbreaks of deadly coli frequently pass unnoticed and recalls are frequent. This food production used to be protected by the FDA but now most of the monitoring of the food is self regulated. The number of food inspectors has been diminished by budget cuts and only a small number of people actually inspect and regulate.
At one time if something bad was discovered the inspectors had the power to shut down the operation but now being self regulated there are few shutdowns until someone or many get sick or die from the contamination. Sanitation is addressed in the slaughter houses and packing plants but because of the food sources of the animals and the hygiene of the feed lots it is impossible to be completely safe.
Animal rights people have for some time been aware of the problems connected with the food industry but the food lobby is so powerful little will be done. Most remember the contamination caused by bad hamburger in a fast food chain called Jack In the Box which resulted in deaths and giant recalls. This is and will be repeated over and over until there are tighter regulations on a food industry which is profit driven.
Canadian regulations are much more controlling but we still get outbreaks such as the one at Maple Leaf Foods a few years ago. I wish that everyone could have seen this documentary as there would be considerable pressure from you the public to bring about needed changes in the way we deal with our food production.
This documentary produced with the use of hidden cameras showed the brutal manner of the industry in having chickens produced in dark rooms in 39 days from egg to table by Prime and Purdue producers. Beef cattle treated in a similar manner and the type of food and drugs given these creatures would make you think about being a vegetarian. The workers involved in the industry are marginalized and are treated like the animals they work with. Third world workers and illegals are the main source of manpower and the average wage is around $18,000 per year.
Hogs were the third group of animals studied and they fared a little better up to shipping time. The methods of slaughtering the animals meets some standard but the manner in which all these animals are treated during the process of getting them ready for market are questionable. Deadly outbreaks of deadly coli frequently pass unnoticed and recalls are frequent. This food production used to be protected by the FDA but now most of the monitoring of the food is self regulated. The number of food inspectors has been diminished by budget cuts and only a small number of people actually inspect and regulate.
At one time if something bad was discovered the inspectors had the power to shut down the operation but now being self regulated there are few shutdowns until someone or many get sick or die from the contamination. Sanitation is addressed in the slaughter houses and packing plants but because of the food sources of the animals and the hygiene of the feed lots it is impossible to be completely safe.
Animal rights people have for some time been aware of the problems connected with the food industry but the food lobby is so powerful little will be done. Most remember the contamination caused by bad hamburger in a fast food chain called Jack In the Box which resulted in deaths and giant recalls. This is and will be repeated over and over until there are tighter regulations on a food industry which is profit driven.
Canadian regulations are much more controlling but we still get outbreaks such as the one at Maple Leaf Foods a few years ago. I wish that everyone could have seen this documentary as there would be considerable pressure from you the public to bring about needed changes in the way we deal with our food production.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Making Hay
In 1957 I was living in a beautiful little hamlet in Muskoka called Magnetawan. A village with a recorded population of 298 souls. It hadn't changed for years and because it relied on the summer tourist trade it kind of folded up in winter and went to sleep.In this year I planned to attend summer school to receive my PhEd diploma from Western University. It was a three year program and I was very interested in this summer's curriculum as it was mainly track and field events.
Money was not plentiful so I was always looking to find ways to supplement my income. A local farmer Bob needed some help to take hay off his mothers farm. He was a school board member and a good man so I decided to help.As a youngster I was familiar with the process and gladly took the job. Bob stated that it would be $10 a day and meals. That was OK with me so we set out on this little adventure. An adventure it was as the farm had not been kept up and the equipment was stored outside and needed some TLC.
I did not realize that Bob would not be working with me all the time so I was thrust down on this farm completely unfamiliar with the task. He showed me the old mower and the tractor in the machine shed and stayed until we had the tractor running and the mower released from the weeds which covered it. He was surprised with the deterioration from two years of growth. We oiled the moving parts and applied grease to the cutting blade and hitched up the old mower to give it a try.
When Bob saw that it worked he left me to fend for myself. When we cut hay in Cape Breton we used horses and and hand raked the fields. We turned the hay and placed it in wind rolls by hand. At times most of our family were involved. Girls and boys pitched in and we all helped. Being cautious I walked the hay fields to clear the way of any obstacles that could damage the mower. I found a few a well as some holes in the ground which could be a problem.
Before I started this elderly lady came from the house with a huge jug of lime juice. She greeted me and said that dinner was to be at 12pm sharp and Bob would join us. I did not realize it at the time but she was legally blind. I started the old Massey- Ferguson and began to cut the hay. It was good hay with a mixture of Timothy and clover and for old machinery it worked well. I worked at a rather slow pace not being familiar with some of the hand controls but speeded up when I had a flat section.
Being back working on this farm gave me ideas and I loved the connection with the land. I had the field nearly finished when I heard the gong and stopped the tractor and walked to the old house. There was no running water nor bathroom but facilities for washing consisted of a wash basin and a large cake of sunlight soap and a hard towel. I entered the rather dark kitchen and was greeted by the best smell in the world, fried chicken. Boiled potatoes with the skins on and Swiss chard for a veggie made a perfect dinner.The lady said grace and told Bob and I to dig in.To top off the dinner rhubarb pie was made that morning and still warm ,covered with chetter cheese completed the feast.
Dinner was over and we talked some about the weather and the state of the old homestead. She was to move into town some years ago but came to the farm for the summer. She was 87 years old and except for her sight loss was as spry as a youngster.We had to get to work and she refilled the lime juice jug and with a kind word said thank you for coming to help her with the haying. I finished that field and moved on to seven more over the next two days. The weather held and with the machine rake I was able to get everything ready for taking in the hay.
Bob came with a large truck and we loaded the hay on the truck box and hauled it to the hay barn. She still had the old hay forks for moving the hay to the hay mow. It was fun to see this gear functioning and to complete the job we sprinkled some salt on the hay in the mow for good luck.
Five days of good work,12 hours a day and the reward was fifty dollars paid in five dollar bills. I had such a good time money was insignificant but the experience of helping this elderly lady, eating her great food and just relating to her and nature made it all worth while. The lady left the farm that year never to go back but she left her old home tidy and ready for some person to move in and start a new life. When I got married a year later she and some other ladies made a quilt and gave it to us for a wedding gift.
Money was not plentiful so I was always looking to find ways to supplement my income. A local farmer Bob needed some help to take hay off his mothers farm. He was a school board member and a good man so I decided to help.As a youngster I was familiar with the process and gladly took the job. Bob stated that it would be $10 a day and meals. That was OK with me so we set out on this little adventure. An adventure it was as the farm had not been kept up and the equipment was stored outside and needed some TLC.
I did not realize that Bob would not be working with me all the time so I was thrust down on this farm completely unfamiliar with the task. He showed me the old mower and the tractor in the machine shed and stayed until we had the tractor running and the mower released from the weeds which covered it. He was surprised with the deterioration from two years of growth. We oiled the moving parts and applied grease to the cutting blade and hitched up the old mower to give it a try.
When Bob saw that it worked he left me to fend for myself. When we cut hay in Cape Breton we used horses and and hand raked the fields. We turned the hay and placed it in wind rolls by hand. At times most of our family were involved. Girls and boys pitched in and we all helped. Being cautious I walked the hay fields to clear the way of any obstacles that could damage the mower. I found a few a well as some holes in the ground which could be a problem.
Before I started this elderly lady came from the house with a huge jug of lime juice. She greeted me and said that dinner was to be at 12pm sharp and Bob would join us. I did not realize it at the time but she was legally blind. I started the old Massey- Ferguson and began to cut the hay. It was good hay with a mixture of Timothy and clover and for old machinery it worked well. I worked at a rather slow pace not being familiar with some of the hand controls but speeded up when I had a flat section.
Being back working on this farm gave me ideas and I loved the connection with the land. I had the field nearly finished when I heard the gong and stopped the tractor and walked to the old house. There was no running water nor bathroom but facilities for washing consisted of a wash basin and a large cake of sunlight soap and a hard towel. I entered the rather dark kitchen and was greeted by the best smell in the world, fried chicken. Boiled potatoes with the skins on and Swiss chard for a veggie made a perfect dinner.The lady said grace and told Bob and I to dig in.To top off the dinner rhubarb pie was made that morning and still warm ,covered with chetter cheese completed the feast.
Dinner was over and we talked some about the weather and the state of the old homestead. She was to move into town some years ago but came to the farm for the summer. She was 87 years old and except for her sight loss was as spry as a youngster.We had to get to work and she refilled the lime juice jug and with a kind word said thank you for coming to help her with the haying. I finished that field and moved on to seven more over the next two days. The weather held and with the machine rake I was able to get everything ready for taking in the hay.
Bob came with a large truck and we loaded the hay on the truck box and hauled it to the hay barn. She still had the old hay forks for moving the hay to the hay mow. It was fun to see this gear functioning and to complete the job we sprinkled some salt on the hay in the mow for good luck.
Five days of good work,12 hours a day and the reward was fifty dollars paid in five dollar bills. I had such a good time money was insignificant but the experience of helping this elderly lady, eating her great food and just relating to her and nature made it all worth while. The lady left the farm that year never to go back but she left her old home tidy and ready for some person to move in and start a new life. When I got married a year later she and some other ladies made a quilt and gave it to us for a wedding gift.
Keeping In Touch
Over the years many people impacted my life. In fact everyone with whom you interact makes a difference. That communication becomes part of you . I have been fortunate to have quite a few people enter my life and contribute in a positive manner to my collective success.I have been in a pensive mode as of late as I make plans to use my recovery period of several months in a meaningful way. One of my plans is to complete some writings which have stalled. Another is to sort out the thousands of pictures I collected over the years and put them in the hands of people who could benefit from them. My next plan is to seek out and communicate with people from my past that I owe some sort of thought.
In part of a book I am writing I have a section which I could call, people I met and liked. Some of these people played a small but significant role in my life and some played a major role in my life. In writing about these people I have a emotional reaction akin to actually meeting them. Many of these people are long gone but I am determined to keep their memory strong by sharing my thoughts about them to friends and family. I never realized how strong memory can be until I began this task. When I close my eyes and picture these people I am able to hear their voice and see their smile and record that most prominent feature of our relationship.
One such person was a lady with whom I shared the best part of twenty five years. A working partner, a friend, a advisor and above all else a positive influence. I have always admired energy in people and getting the task done in a proper manner. A person who had ideas and opinions and wished to share these with you. Someone who told you the truth as they saw it and not what you wanted to hear necessarily. A person you could trust with your inner thoughts and not fear that they would be shared with other people. This is the description I would give to anyone who wished to acknowledge my working partner Betty.
When I began to list the people who had the greatest influence it became apparent that many people shared that role and is really the story of your life because your life is a succession of interactions not events and it is the personal touches that come from these interactions that really count. I am going to have a good time with this project and I am sure that the end result will be a enriching exercise.
There are so many goals to reach during these next months that I probably will get frustrated. Frustration can result in redefining my personal goals and setting my sights on a fewer and more focused tasks. In any case I am having fun with the planning and look forward to meeting many old and some not so old friends as I meet and greet each one.
In part of a book I am writing I have a section which I could call, people I met and liked. Some of these people played a small but significant role in my life and some played a major role in my life. In writing about these people I have a emotional reaction akin to actually meeting them. Many of these people are long gone but I am determined to keep their memory strong by sharing my thoughts about them to friends and family. I never realized how strong memory can be until I began this task. When I close my eyes and picture these people I am able to hear their voice and see their smile and record that most prominent feature of our relationship.
One such person was a lady with whom I shared the best part of twenty five years. A working partner, a friend, a advisor and above all else a positive influence. I have always admired energy in people and getting the task done in a proper manner. A person who had ideas and opinions and wished to share these with you. Someone who told you the truth as they saw it and not what you wanted to hear necessarily. A person you could trust with your inner thoughts and not fear that they would be shared with other people. This is the description I would give to anyone who wished to acknowledge my working partner Betty.
When I began to list the people who had the greatest influence it became apparent that many people shared that role and is really the story of your life because your life is a succession of interactions not events and it is the personal touches that come from these interactions that really count. I am going to have a good time with this project and I am sure that the end result will be a enriching exercise.
There are so many goals to reach during these next months that I probably will get frustrated. Frustration can result in redefining my personal goals and setting my sights on a fewer and more focused tasks. In any case I am having fun with the planning and look forward to meeting many old and some not so old friends as I meet and greet each one.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Sunshine.The Wonder Pony
Some years ago when we lived in Pembroke and Carol and Richard had the farm, I had the opportunity to buy a pony. The pony was a beauty which came complete with saddle and all the necessary harness. We kept Sunshine out on the farm. This pony was trained as a barrel racer and was very fast. Our kids loved the pony to pet and play with but were a little afraid of her because of her speed.
One day were were gathered at the farm and the kids were taking turns with Sunshine going for rides in the back paths of the large farm. Darlene had long legs and could really hold on when Sunshine took off very quickly. This one time Darlene was ready for her turn to ride and mounted Sunshine. Just as Sunshine took off at a fast clip the saddle turned and Darlene ended up under the pony still holding on for dear life. Sunshine knew something was wrong and stopped.
Darlene was still holding on until we extracted her from the upside down saddle. She was shaken but not hurt so we all laughed and had smiling moment. Dar was not so pleased but managed to climb back on and complete her turn. Sunshine was getting old but was a safe and loyal pony for the kids for a few years. It was great to live in the city but have the joy of some of the benefits of life in the country. I loved those happy moments from the past.
One day were were gathered at the farm and the kids were taking turns with Sunshine going for rides in the back paths of the large farm. Darlene had long legs and could really hold on when Sunshine took off very quickly. This one time Darlene was ready for her turn to ride and mounted Sunshine. Just as Sunshine took off at a fast clip the saddle turned and Darlene ended up under the pony still holding on for dear life. Sunshine knew something was wrong and stopped.
Darlene was still holding on until we extracted her from the upside down saddle. She was shaken but not hurt so we all laughed and had smiling moment. Dar was not so pleased but managed to climb back on and complete her turn. Sunshine was getting old but was a safe and loyal pony for the kids for a few years. It was great to live in the city but have the joy of some of the benefits of life in the country. I loved those happy moments from the past.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Toronto - What A Leadership Mess
Rarely have I seen such a total vacuum when it comes to leadership in the Toronto City Council. Led by two brothers who would make a tag team wrestling match and share a need to bully council to their way of thinking. They carry the ultra right Conservative idea to the extreme. One was elected to be Mayor and the other is his body guard. Elected to get the city back on a balanced budget they immediately hired a consulting firm to tell or advise council what it should do.
I always thought that task was the responsibility of the finance committee of council with the mayor leading the way. All the rhetoric during the election was about all the cuts that could be made because of the waste. There was some waste but not much and as a matter of fact the previous administration did a pretty good job. Since the election the mayor has gone off in all directions and appears to be completely out of touch with reality when it comes to finances. He did have a dinner with our Prime Minister who shares the same right wing beliefs and has added his support to cutting programs (social) but keeping the taxes low for high income people. At this same dinner party the PM also jumped into the provincial election and supports a leader who wishes to keep the province reliant on oil. Cut the green energy policies which will one day make us self supporting for our energy needs.
There is something wrong about the approach that this movement has nurtured. It does not look to the soft services that make our society a rich and caring place in which to live. Yes it makes it OK for the ones with means so the hell with the rest. Every dollar spent on our young and needy saved thousands later on in life when it really counts. So education, health, research and arts provide the stuff of the future. These are the programs being trashed both here and in America.
We are going down a path to place us as a third world country. The problem could be solved quite easily. Raise taxes a little and get a lot. There must be a way to tax our industries (oil) to help carry the load. Many of our most profitable companies never pay a cent and the very rich are not paying enough. Really it is our wealth and should be used to provide a good life for all.
Observe what Toronto does and we will be looking at a microcosm of what will be in the future of Canada.
I always thought that task was the responsibility of the finance committee of council with the mayor leading the way. All the rhetoric during the election was about all the cuts that could be made because of the waste. There was some waste but not much and as a matter of fact the previous administration did a pretty good job. Since the election the mayor has gone off in all directions and appears to be completely out of touch with reality when it comes to finances. He did have a dinner with our Prime Minister who shares the same right wing beliefs and has added his support to cutting programs (social) but keeping the taxes low for high income people. At this same dinner party the PM also jumped into the provincial election and supports a leader who wishes to keep the province reliant on oil. Cut the green energy policies which will one day make us self supporting for our energy needs.
There is something wrong about the approach that this movement has nurtured. It does not look to the soft services that make our society a rich and caring place in which to live. Yes it makes it OK for the ones with means so the hell with the rest. Every dollar spent on our young and needy saved thousands later on in life when it really counts. So education, health, research and arts provide the stuff of the future. These are the programs being trashed both here and in America.
We are going down a path to place us as a third world country. The problem could be solved quite easily. Raise taxes a little and get a lot. There must be a way to tax our industries (oil) to help carry the load. Many of our most profitable companies never pay a cent and the very rich are not paying enough. Really it is our wealth and should be used to provide a good life for all.
Observe what Toronto does and we will be looking at a microcosm of what will be in the future of Canada.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Sydney Mines, Cape Breton
Every once in a while I get nudged into looking back at my birth place in beautiful Cape Breton. This week my oldest daughter sent me a link for the second time which contains triggers to my past. I lived only a stones throw from the CNR Station on the main line of the railroad that brought Canada together as a country. This station is now the museum for the Area and is a perfect setting for our past history.
We lived on a particular piece of land which would for a hundred years furnish the natural resources making Sydney Mines a power house for heavy industry. Men with the ability to see coal under the ocean and the courage to undertake risks and capitol to extract it made for generations of wealth for the owners. One mine in particular called Number 1 but better known as Princess colliery was the largest submarine mine in the world and produced fine coal for over a century without interruption except a few strikes.
This coal made good coke so a modern (best in the world at the time) steel plant was built right in Sydney Mines. Iron ore was close at hand and for years the plant produced excellent grades of steel. A town was built around the industries and soon churches, hotels and all the components that make a stable community became a reality.
As a boy growing up in a coal town there was memories of dust, specially when you helped your Dad haul coal from the wash plant. Every pull of the chain on the coal chute gave a belch of coal dust, especially on windy days. I never gave it much thought at the time but our whole life was centered around the coal. It was not long before the railway turned to oil for their fuel and the steam engines were sold as scrap iron. We still see them at museum sites and we saw the glory days of these beautiful machines die a slow death. Living right there by the tracks and watching the trains pass through had an impact on we kids who used to delight in putting a penny on the rail and see it flattened by the crush of these monsters who belched smoke and steam and while not moving made sounds like a heartbeat.
The slower and smaller coal trains moving the coal from the mine to the coal trussel in North Sydney were a challenge for us to catch a ride. Mom always warned us but we took chances anyway and jumped the train taking us down to the beach in Cranberry.
All this came to a stop when the mines closed, the steel mill was torn down and the business section of the town diminished when the Co-op closed. The hotels which once graced our end of town burned one after another and sort of followed the lack of need for such enterprises. Our town turned shabby for a time as coal tailings were flattened to make baseball diamonds and parks. Lack of industry chased people to the mall built to cover the whole area and people settled in to become a bedroom town. Seniors became an industry and new housing and facilities were built. Sydney Mines now is off the beaten path now but has become a quiet place to retire.
When I go home I always visit the cemetery where generations of Vickers and Browns grace the old resting place for people who lived through the glory days of their town. I also visit Lockman's beach where I picture the Great Eastern laying off shore while the trans Atlantic cable was laid from Great Britain to Sydney Mines. The old building still stands and if you are lucky you can see the bits of cable sticking out of the sandy beach if it survived the people who dug it up for the copper it contained.
I walk the shoreline on the cliffs where during WWII huge guns were placed to guard the harbour and the convoys which left to feed free Europe. There is much more to Sydney Mines than you see by driving through on your way to go over the Cabot Trail. Drop in to the Museum and see our history and oh yes, one of the best collections of fossils found anywhere.
My children were all born in Upper Canada so trips home are essential to make sure they do not lose their proud heritage.
We lived on a particular piece of land which would for a hundred years furnish the natural resources making Sydney Mines a power house for heavy industry. Men with the ability to see coal under the ocean and the courage to undertake risks and capitol to extract it made for generations of wealth for the owners. One mine in particular called Number 1 but better known as Princess colliery was the largest submarine mine in the world and produced fine coal for over a century without interruption except a few strikes.
This coal made good coke so a modern (best in the world at the time) steel plant was built right in Sydney Mines. Iron ore was close at hand and for years the plant produced excellent grades of steel. A town was built around the industries and soon churches, hotels and all the components that make a stable community became a reality.
As a boy growing up in a coal town there was memories of dust, specially when you helped your Dad haul coal from the wash plant. Every pull of the chain on the coal chute gave a belch of coal dust, especially on windy days. I never gave it much thought at the time but our whole life was centered around the coal. It was not long before the railway turned to oil for their fuel and the steam engines were sold as scrap iron. We still see them at museum sites and we saw the glory days of these beautiful machines die a slow death. Living right there by the tracks and watching the trains pass through had an impact on we kids who used to delight in putting a penny on the rail and see it flattened by the crush of these monsters who belched smoke and steam and while not moving made sounds like a heartbeat.
The slower and smaller coal trains moving the coal from the mine to the coal trussel in North Sydney were a challenge for us to catch a ride. Mom always warned us but we took chances anyway and jumped the train taking us down to the beach in Cranberry.
All this came to a stop when the mines closed, the steel mill was torn down and the business section of the town diminished when the Co-op closed. The hotels which once graced our end of town burned one after another and sort of followed the lack of need for such enterprises. Our town turned shabby for a time as coal tailings were flattened to make baseball diamonds and parks. Lack of industry chased people to the mall built to cover the whole area and people settled in to become a bedroom town. Seniors became an industry and new housing and facilities were built. Sydney Mines now is off the beaten path now but has become a quiet place to retire.
When I go home I always visit the cemetery where generations of Vickers and Browns grace the old resting place for people who lived through the glory days of their town. I also visit Lockman's beach where I picture the Great Eastern laying off shore while the trans Atlantic cable was laid from Great Britain to Sydney Mines. The old building still stands and if you are lucky you can see the bits of cable sticking out of the sandy beach if it survived the people who dug it up for the copper it contained.
I walk the shoreline on the cliffs where during WWII huge guns were placed to guard the harbour and the convoys which left to feed free Europe. There is much more to Sydney Mines than you see by driving through on your way to go over the Cabot Trail. Drop in to the Museum and see our history and oh yes, one of the best collections of fossils found anywhere.
My children were all born in Upper Canada so trips home are essential to make sure they do not lose their proud heritage.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Long Weekend On The Ottawa River.
The Ottawa River is a mighty river travelling some 860 miles dividing Canada's two largest provinces Ontario and Quebec.It begins in the Laurentians far above the capitol City of Ottawa in Quebec and wanders in a north west direction until it reaches the Temiskaming Lake. Here it runs due south for 60 miles and then moves through the rolling countryside in a eastern direction eventually emptying into the St. Lawrence River at Montreal. In its travels it flows in all four directions. It is a deep river ,reaching depths of over 500 feet and has a yearly flow rate of huge dimensions enabling it to produce electricity along its course in several places.
This river was a motivating force in my life and the stretch between Pembroke and Des Jockims provided our family with years of family entertainment. We owned several boats during the nearly 30 years we lived on it's banks but the Miss Pembroke was our favourite. Looking through our log book yesterday motivated me to write this blog today. During the years we owned the Miss Pembroke I listed 0ver 200 groups experiencing the marvel of the river and the beauty of Oiseau Rock as our guests. I counted some 3500 people in our log book and that was the sort of formal voyages. Numerous shorter outings with smaller numbers would bring the total to over 5000.
We never charged a penny for any of these trips but used the opportunity to engage people in the conversation about the benefits of our great natural resource. I later ran a commercial venture which was not a financial success but opened the river to many people.
Our boat was a family boat, registered for up to 55 passengers but we rarely had that many on board. On a regular basis we carried our family and their friends. Everyone was invited and our children became very proficient at running the boat and understanding the rules of the river.
In 1978 we decided to take a short cruise up the river without family but with good friends Betty and Bill. These were dear and close friends who shared much of our life together as Betty was my working partner. Quarters were spacious on board so we decided to stay for a couple of days. I seemed odd that we would have the boat all to ourselves. We travelled upstream and cut the engine and just drifted in the slow current. The weather was beautiful and we sat having a few munchies and favourite drinks. Occasionally we would dive over the side to cool off and resume our quiet time.
On this time away we were able to talk about matters that were on our mind and we shared some interesting thoughts. Usually we were in larger groups and being confined to the small venue I was amazed at how much I had taken for granted with these friends of mine. Here where we expressed our most inward thoughts I was taken up with the manner they viewed our friendship and felt humble and almost embarrassed by my lack of understanding.I was getting a lesson from this small group in listening. Usually I would impose my will on a group, sometimes without considering the other points of view. Here on the Ottawa I was listening ,truly listening and getting an ear full.
I held a high profile in our small city and needed a leveling out lesson. With these friends I learned much and as the days went on I had a greater appreciation of they as friends and and sounding boards. The evenings were shared around a fire and again it is so easy to talk and share through a orange and blue flame reaching up in the calm air.
Each night as we retired to sleep I lay awake and mulled over the conversations and with an inward smile I drifted into peaceful sleep to awake refreshed and sad that we had to return to the dock in a few hours. Our sail home was quiet as I realized that something special happened there this time.Betty and Bill were lifetime friends and out on the Ottawa we bonded and sealed a connection which would influence me during my career and entire life.I only wish that I still owned the Miss Pembroke and could take my grand children for a rewarding weekend on the Ottawa River. Think of the lessons they could learn.
This river was a motivating force in my life and the stretch between Pembroke and Des Jockims provided our family with years of family entertainment. We owned several boats during the nearly 30 years we lived on it's banks but the Miss Pembroke was our favourite. Looking through our log book yesterday motivated me to write this blog today. During the years we owned the Miss Pembroke I listed 0ver 200 groups experiencing the marvel of the river and the beauty of Oiseau Rock as our guests. I counted some 3500 people in our log book and that was the sort of formal voyages. Numerous shorter outings with smaller numbers would bring the total to over 5000.
We never charged a penny for any of these trips but used the opportunity to engage people in the conversation about the benefits of our great natural resource. I later ran a commercial venture which was not a financial success but opened the river to many people.
Our boat was a family boat, registered for up to 55 passengers but we rarely had that many on board. On a regular basis we carried our family and their friends. Everyone was invited and our children became very proficient at running the boat and understanding the rules of the river.
In 1978 we decided to take a short cruise up the river without family but with good friends Betty and Bill. These were dear and close friends who shared much of our life together as Betty was my working partner. Quarters were spacious on board so we decided to stay for a couple of days. I seemed odd that we would have the boat all to ourselves. We travelled upstream and cut the engine and just drifted in the slow current. The weather was beautiful and we sat having a few munchies and favourite drinks. Occasionally we would dive over the side to cool off and resume our quiet time.
On this time away we were able to talk about matters that were on our mind and we shared some interesting thoughts. Usually we were in larger groups and being confined to the small venue I was amazed at how much I had taken for granted with these friends of mine. Here where we expressed our most inward thoughts I was taken up with the manner they viewed our friendship and felt humble and almost embarrassed by my lack of understanding.I was getting a lesson from this small group in listening. Usually I would impose my will on a group, sometimes without considering the other points of view. Here on the Ottawa I was listening ,truly listening and getting an ear full.
I held a high profile in our small city and needed a leveling out lesson. With these friends I learned much and as the days went on I had a greater appreciation of they as friends and and sounding boards. The evenings were shared around a fire and again it is so easy to talk and share through a orange and blue flame reaching up in the calm air.
Each night as we retired to sleep I lay awake and mulled over the conversations and with an inward smile I drifted into peaceful sleep to awake refreshed and sad that we had to return to the dock in a few hours. Our sail home was quiet as I realized that something special happened there this time.Betty and Bill were lifetime friends and out on the Ottawa we bonded and sealed a connection which would influence me during my career and entire life.I only wish that I still owned the Miss Pembroke and could take my grand children for a rewarding weekend on the Ottawa River. Think of the lessons they could learn.
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